Family and Children's Services of Greater Lynn Inc.'s Family Resource Center welcomes the public to its weekly drop in hours for a host of activities and events for parents and chidren (through 6 years of age) to enjoy. You will find books to read to your child, toys and family advocates with craft projects and activities for both parents parents and children, along with many more opportunities to help your child grow. All programs are free of charge.

For a full list of activities please click here.

Catholic Charities North will be hosting a Children's Toy Party on December 14th from 11 AM to 1 PM at Colman Hall, St. John's Parish Center in Swampscott. Bring your children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces to a celebration of giving. Admission is free with a gift toward our Christmas Giving Program. Children of all ages will enjoy cookies, cocoa, Christmas music, and having their picture taken with Santa.

Each year Catholic Charities North helps more than 500 families during the month of December. They receive Christmas gifts for the children and often a gift card to help purchase groceries for a holiday meal. All of the items donated by friends of Catholic Charities, including individuals, local businesses, and parishes. You can join them by bringing a gift to the toy party. Items needed include: gift cards to local grocery stores, diapers and wipes, educational toys, games or school supplies for an infant or child younger than 12.

For more information or any questions please call (781) 593-2312 or email Sarah Bartley at sarah_bartley@ccab.org. You may also visit the Catholic Charities website at www.ccab.org.

The Front Porch, a program of Jewish Family Services of the North Shore, is hosting an Arts Festival on December 14th. Local artists will show and sell their creations. Vistors are invited to learn how to knit, or make their own beading, fabric and calligraphy projects. This is also an opportunity for the community to learn more about The Front Porch organization. For more information about the location and time of the Festival, or about how to register as an artist please email Susan at sberliner@jfsns.org. All artists must pre-register in order to participate. While artists will keep the majority of their sales, aa smallportion will go to supporting The Front Porch programs.

The Community Minority Cultural Center encourages all youth to participate in their first annual Martin Luther King, Jr. essay contest. Please return your essay to Ryanne Filbey at rfilbey@socialcapitalinc.org or to Beth Wright at beth.wright@gordon.edu by Friday, December 5th.

Award winners will be notified by December 15th. All youth who submit an essay will have their names listed in the Holiday Observance Program Book. The top three essayists will each receive a $100 award which will be presented during the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Observance on January 19th.

You can find the list of essay questions and complete directions attached below.

Lynn Community Access + Media television (LynnCAMtv) is here to provide community access to local television broadcast. LynnCAMtv reaches the Lynn and Swampscott areas via Comcast channels 3 and 6. LynnCAMtv invites you to join their organization available to all local residents and nonprofit organizations and gives those that join access to training and equipment for community messages and public service announcements, broadcast of produced programs, television studio production, television field production, and digital film editing and program creation.

For current available classes and more information please click here.

HAWC will be holding their annual holiday store for their clients December 1st through the 12th from 9 AM to 4 PM Monday through Friday. Donations can be dropped off at the Salem office at 27 Congress St., Suite 201.

In light of the current economy, we would like to encourage our holiday store supporters to consider contributing to a family's heating and utility expenses this winter. Gas cards would also be greatly appreciated. You can download the complete Holiday Store Wish List to see other ways you can help HAWC families this holiday season by clicking here.

If you have questions about donations or volunteering please contact Hannah at (978) 744-2299 ext 11 or email her at hannahm@hawcdv.org.

Celebrate the start of the Holiday Season at the 4th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. Mayor Edward “Chip” Clancy hosts the evening as we light up Central Square. Grab a hot cider and shop the Fabulous Holiday Show and Sale at LynnArts. Kids can make a seasonal decoration or ornament at Raw Art Works. Enjoy a variety of family activities including an ice sculpture demonstration, face-painting, a fire juggler and balloon twister. Happy Holidays from your neighbors in Central Square! Thursday, December 4, 2008, 5 PM until 7:30 PM at Central Square Lynn, MA. For more information please visit  www.thirdthursdayslynn.com.

Famiies, friends and neighbors are invited to celebrate Christmas at Gordon. Gordon college invites families across the North Shore to take part in the events offered during the second annual Christmas at Gordon celebration from December 2nd through December 6th. Christmas at Gordon is an oppurtunity for the surrounding North Shore communities to celebrate the Christmas seaso with students, faculty and alumni of the college as well as neighbors and friends in the community.

The program kicks off on Tuesday, December 2, with a Campus Tree Lighting ceremony in front of the A. J. Gordon Memorial Chapel. There will be complimentary hot chocolate and cider for families, stories of the Advent season, and a special outdoor carol performance by the Jabulani Choir. Following the ceremony the student government association will host a free holiday movie in the A. J. Gordon Memorial Chapel for local youth groups, students and friends in the community.

For a complete calendar of events please contact Jo Kadlecek by phone at (978) 867-4235 or by email at jo.kadlecek@gordon.edu.